Buckle



July 15, 1941.

' P. w. WHITE 2,249,409

BUCKLE Filed Oct. 2,1959

I In I 4 bum Patented July 15, 1941 BUCKLE Paul W. White, Waterbury,Conn, assignor to I Parva Products Company, Chicago, poration ofDelaware 111., a ool'- Application October 2, 1939, Serial N 'zemcz 8Claims.

This invention relates to a buckle and has special reference to a slidebuckle adapted to be mounted on a strap, band or the like for securingarticles together or for the support of garments or other objects. 7

More particularly, this invention has reference to a slide buckle forassociation with a strap comprising a pair of frames disposed in afaceto-face relation for longitudinally slidable engagementthere-between in which the frames have spaced side bars and spaced crossbars connecting the side bars for defining openings therethrough toreceive the strap, one of the cross bars normally being loosely held inposition with respect to one of the frames by the cooperation of both ofthe frames and one cross bar of one of the frames having an inclinedsurface cooperating with the loosely held cross bar to clamp the strapthreaded therebetween in adjusted positions upon relative movement ofthe frames in one direction. V

The device of the present invention may be adapted for use in variousconnections and, as a matter of fact, the construction may be employedwith slight variations not departing from the spirit of this inventionalmost universally where detachable connections are desired. Hereafterand in the drawing the device will be described and shown in itsassociation with a strap of .a belt although it is readily understoodthat the buckle may be employed with a strap for skates, books and thelike, for attachment to lingerie, for encircling the leg as a hosesupporter, for use as a suspender or for detachable engagement withgarments of various characters. It is,

of course, to be understood that various other uses may be mentioned andthat this invention is not to be limited to any single specific use.

The buckle contemplated herein is so constructed and arranged as toprovide an effective gripping or clamping of the strap between the strapand the strap-engaging cooperating faces of relatively movable membersof a slide buckle and particularly in that type of slide bucklepresenting an inclined strap-engaging face, a locked engagement isobtained which is difficult and inconvenient to release. It isdesirable, therefore, to clamp a strap in a fixed adjusted position sothat the lock efiected therebyis readily released when desired to adjustthe strap within the buckle to a loosened condition. The presentinvention contemplates an effective locking or clamping of the strap ina locked position to be readily releasable therefrom whendesired.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a buckle havingrelatively slidable frame members of the character indicated above inwhich the construction is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, isdurable, and is simple in construction', in threading, and inmanipulation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a buckle havingrelatively slidable frame mem-I will hereinafter be more particularlypointed out and, for a more complete understanding of the characteristicfeatures of this invention, reference may now be had to the followingdescription when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in whichlatter:

Figure 1 is a front View of a buckle incorporating the features of thisinvention as shown in its relation with a belt strap shown fragmentarily; V

Fig. 2' is an enlarged central sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1, a portion of the strap being shown in .dotted lines as beingclamped in an adjusted position within the frames'of the buckle;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the frames of the buckle in achanged position with thestr-ap loosely threaded there'through; and

Fig. 4 isa sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, the rollerbeing shown in full lines. V I

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the construction thereinshown as embodyin the features of this invention comprises a pair offrame members in and ll,t he frame member l being substantiallyrectangular in shape and having spaced side bars l2 and I3 connected byspaced cross bars l4 and 5 to define a strap opening. The frame II islikewise substantially rectangular in shape and has spaced side bars I6and I! connected by spaced cross bars l8 and I9 forming an opening.

The side bars l2 and I3 of the frame l0 comprise opposed channels,ledges and 2|, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4, extending in adirection inwardly toward each other from one edge of the side bars I 2and I3, respectively, and ledges 22 and 23 extending in a directioninwardly toward each other from the other edge of the side bars I2 andI3, respectively, The opposed channels thus formed receive the side barsI6 and ll of the frame H for directin longitudinal movements of theframes.

The cross bar I4 of the frame I0 is preferably inclined and has anextending portion bent back upon itself from the material of the openingof the frame H! to overlie the inclined portion and to present aninclined strap-engaging face 24.

The cross bar l3 of the frame isfolded back upon itself to provide asmooth rounded edge I facing the opening to the frame, the rounded edgepresenting a strap-engaging face. The side bars l6 and I1 are eachprovided with an extension 21, the extensions being preferably formedintegrally with the side bars. tensions 21 slidably engage in theirlongitudinal movement the opposed channels formed by the side bars l2and I3 of the frame II).

In order to prevent angular displacement of the frame H with respect toits normal longitudinal movement, the ledges 22 and 23 are provided withangularly extending flanges 29 and 30, respectively, the flanges 29 and30 overlying the sides of the extensions 21 to form a guideway therefor.The frame together withits extensions 2! lies wholly within the confinesof the frame I9 even during the relative longitudinal movement thereofin both directions.

In order to present a gripping bar which may effectively clamp the strapin a fixed adjusted position without marring the strap, a cross bar 3|in the form of a roller is connected between the side bars l3 and I! offrame H in the opening between the cross bars l8 and I9. The roller isdisposed closely adjacent the cross bar IE! to form a strap openingbetween the roller and the cross bar l3. As shown more particularly inFig. 4, the cross bar or roller 3| is provided with reduced extensions32 and 33 on opposite ends thereof to be received in notches 34 and 35,respectively, of the arms I6 and I! of frame The notches 34 and 35 openinto one side edge of the respective side bars so: that the roller- 3|loosely held in position with respect to the frame II by the cooperationof both of the frames, the ledges 20 and 2| preventing displacement inone direction and the notches 34 and 35 preventing displacement in theopposite direction and in both sidewise directions. In other words, theroller is loosely engaged in the notches and prevented from displacementtherefrom by the ledges 20 and 2 I.

In the, position shown in Fig. 2, the frame II- is moved in onedirection with respectto the frame ID to clamp a strap 36 between thestrapengaging roller 3| and the strap-engaging inclined face 24 of thecross bar M, the free end of the strap being threaded through theopening.

in the frame II and between the roller 3| and strap-engaging face 24through the opening in The exthe frame Ill. The strap is shown in adisengaged position between the strap-engaging faces in Fig. 3, theframe being moved in an opposite longitudinal direction to separate theroller of the frame II from the inclined strap-engaging portion 24 ofthe cross bar l4.

When tension is had on the strap 36 the smooth rounded portion of thefolded cross bar |8 is engaged by the strap clue to the tortuous path ofthe strap through the openings in the frames and the strap pulls theframe II in one direction relative to the frame In which is held againstmovement by the other end of the strap engaging the cross bar l5. Due tothe tortuous path of the strap the smooth rounded portion of the crossbar l3 presents sufficient friction to effect relative movement of theframes.

When the strap moves the frames to the position thereof shown in Fig. 2,the thickness of the strap is compressed in direct proportion to theamount of tension applied to the strap, one of the strap-engaging crossbars being inclined and the other strap-engaging cross bar being held ina direction of movement converging with respect to the inclined face.Ordinarily, a wedging action thus produced locks the frames so that itis somewhat difficult to break the lock and release the strap. In thepresent invention the cross baris looselymounted or loosely held inposition with respect to one of the frames by the cooperation of both ofthe frames and the cross bar thus loosely mounted is preferably in theform of a roller. While the above construction effectively locks theframes and effectively clamps the strap therebetween, a breaking of thelock to release the strap is readily accomplished and further thewell-rounded surface of the roller and the flat surface of the inclinedstrap-engaging cross bar 24 prevents marring of the strap.

In order to facilitate the correct threading of the strap through theopenings of the frames l0 and II it is desirable that the space betweenthe end of the cross bar I8 and the strap-engaging face 24 of the crossbar I4 be in effect obstructed so that the strap cannot be threadedtherebetween. The present construction contemplates theprovision of theopposed channels varying in depth over the length thereof. so that asthe extensions 21 ride along one wall of the channels during relativelongitudinal movement of the frames, the frame I I will be tilted withrespect to the frame ||l so that the cross bar |8 will followsubstantially the inclination of the strap-engaging face 24. The spacebetween the end of the frame II and the inclined strap-engaging face 24will, in effect, be obstructed by being smaller than the thickness ofthe strap during the positions of relative longitudinal movement of theframes so as to prevent the strap from being threaded therebetween. Themovement of the frames to effect a relative tilting therebetween isshown in Figs. 2, and 3.

While but a single embodiment of this invention is herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various. modifications thereofmay be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only tobe limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims. 7

I claim: I

1. A slideibuckle for association with a strap, comprising a pair offrames disposed in a faceto-face relation for longitudinally slidableenbar of one of said frames co-operating with said loosely held crossbar to clamp the strap threaded therebetween in adjusted positions uponrelative movement of said frames in one direction.

2. A slide buckle for association with a strap, comprising a pair offrames disposed in a faceto-face relation for longitudinally slidableengagement therebetween, said frames having spaced side bars and spacedcross bars connecting said side bars for defining openings therethroughto receive the strap, one of said cross bars comprising a rollernormally loosely held in position with respect to one of said frames bythe co-operation of both of said frames, means for directinglongitudinal movement of" said frames, one cross bar of one of saidframes having an inclined surface co-operating with said roller to clampthe strap threaded therebetween in adjusted positions upon relativemovement of said frames in one direction.

3. A slide buckle for association with a strap, comprising a pair offrames disposed in a faceto-face relation for longitudinally slidableengagement therebetween, said frames having spaced side bars and spacedcross bars connecting said side bars for defining openings therethroughto receive the strap, the side bars of one of said frames having notchesand one of said cross bars of said notched frame comprising a rollernormally loosely held in position in said notches by the co-operation ofboth of said frames, means for directing longitudinal movement of saidframes, one cross bar of one of said frames having an inclined surfaceco-operating with said loosely held roller to clamp the strap threadedtherebetween in adjusted positions upon relative movement of said framesin one direction.

4. A slide buckle for association with a strap, comprising a pair offrames disposed in a faceto-face relation for longitudinally slidableengagement therebetween, said frames having spaced side bars and spacedcross bars connecting said side bars for defining openings therethroughto receive the strap, the side bars of one of said frames having notchesand one of said cross bars of said notched frame comprising a rollerhaving reduced ends normally loosely held in position in said notches bythe co-operation of both of said frames, means for directinglongitudinal movement of said frames, one cross bar of one of saidframes having an inclined surface co-operating with said loosely heldroller to clamp the strap threaded therebetween in adjusted positionsupon relative movement of said frames in one direction.

5. A slide buckle for association with a strap, comprising a pair offrames disposed in a faceto-face relation for longitudinally slidableengagement therebetween, one of said frames having a peripheral flangedirected inwardly thereof to confine the other frame therein, saidframes having spaced side bars and spaced cross bars connecting saidside bars for defining openings therethrough to receive the strap, theside bars of one of said frames having notches and one of said crossbars of said notched frame comprising a roller, the ends of which arenormally loosely held in position in said notches by the peripheralflange of the other of said frames, one cross bar of one of said frameshaving an inclined surface co-operating with said loosely held roller toclamp the strap threaded therebetween in adjusted positions uponrelative movement of said frames in one direction;

6. A slide buckle for association with a strap,

comprising a pair of frames disposed in a face-,

to-face relation for longitudinally slidable engagement therebetween,said frames having spaced side bars and spaced cross bar-s connectingsaid side bars for defining openings therethrough to receive the strap,opposed channels formed on the side bars of one of said frames forreceiving the side bars of the other of said frames for directingrelative longitudinal movements of said frames, side bars of the otherof said frames having notches and one of said cross bars of said notchedframe comprising a roller, the ends of which are normally loosely heldin position in said notches by one side of the channels of the other ofsaid frames, one cross bar of one of said frames having an inclinedsurface co-operating with said loosely held roller to clamp the strapthreaded therebetween in adjusted positions upon relative movement ofsaid frames in one direction.

7. A slide buckle for association with a strap,

comprising a pair of frames disposed in a faceto-face relation forlongitudinally slidable engagement therebetween, said frames havingspaced side bars and spaced cross bars connecting said side bars fordefining openings therethrough to receive the strap, one cross bar ofone of said frames being folded back upon itself to provide a roundededge and the other of said cross bars comprising a roller normallyloosely held in position with respect to said frame .by the co-operationof both of'said frames, 'means for directing longitudinal movement ofsaid frames, one cross bar of one of said frames cooperating with saidloosely held roller to clamp the strap threaded therebetween in adjustedpositions upon relative movement of said frames in one direction.

8. A slide buckle for association with a strap,

comprising a pair of frames disposed in a faceto-face relation forlongitudinally slidable engagement therebetween, said frames havingspaced side bars and spaced cross bars connecting said side bars fordefining openings therethrough to receive the strap, side bars of one ofsaid frames having notches, one cross bar of said notched frame beingfolded back upon itself to provide a rounded edge and the other of saidcross bars comprising a roller. normally loosely held in position insaid notches by the co-operation of both of said frames, means fordirecting longitudinal movement of said frames, one cross bar of one ofsaid frames having an inclined surface co-operating with said looselyheld cross bar to clamp the strap threaded therebetween in adjustedpositions uponrelative movement of said frames in one direction.

PAUL W. WHITE.

